Pre-Presidential Papers | Jimmy Carter Library

34 linear feet, 7 linear inches, 79 containers

The material in this collection consists of correspondence, form letters, memoranda, studies, recommendations, position papers, notes, speeches, press releases, news clippings, itineraries, newsletters, pamphlets, polling data, voting statistics, campaign advertisements, appointment books, and publications. The materials document, to a small extent, Jimmy Carter’s early political career in the state Senate; his 1966 and 1970 gubernatorial campaigns; and appointments to local boards and commissions in Georgia.

Jimmy Carter 1924-

Jimmy Carter (James Earl Carter, Jr.), thirty-ninth president of the United States, was born October 1, 1924, in the small farming town of Plains, Georgia, and grew up in the nearby community of Archery. His father, James Earl Carter, Sr., was a farmer and businessman; his mother, Lillian Gordy Carter, a registered nurse.

He was educated in the public school of Plains, attended Georgia Southwestern College and the Georgia Institute of Technology, and received a B.S. degree from the United States Naval Academy in 1946. In the Navy he became a submariner, serving in both the Atlantic and Pacific fleets and rising to the rank of lieutenant. Chosen by Admiral Hyman Rickover for the nuclear submarine program, he was assigned to Schenectady, New York, where he took graduate work at Union College in reactor technology and nuclear physics, and served as senior officer of the precommissioning crew of the Seawolf, the second nuclear submarine.

On July 7, 1946, he married Rosalynn Smith of Plains. When his father died in 1953, he resigned his naval commission and returned with his family to Georgia. He took over the Carter farms, and he and Rosalynn operated Carter's Warehouse, a general-purpose seed and farm supply company in Plains. He quickly became a leader of the community, serving on county boards supervising education, the hospital authority, and the library. In 1962 he won election to the Georgia Senate. He lost his first gubernatorial campaign in 1966, but won the next election, becoming Georgia's 76th governor on January 12, 1971. He was the Democratic National Committee campaign chairman for the 1974 congressional and gubernatorial elections.

On December 12, 1974, he announced his candidacy for president of the United States. He won his party's nomination on the first ballot at the 1976 Democratic National Convention, and was elected president on November 2, 1976.

Jimmy Carter served as president from January 20, 1977 to January 20, 1981. Significant foreign policy accomplishments of his administration included the Panama Canal treaties, the Camp David Accords, the treaty of peace between Egypt and Israel, the SALT II treaty with the Soviet Union, and the establishment of U.S. diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China. He championed human rights throughout the world. On the domestic side, the administration's achievements included a comprehensive energy program conducted by a new Department of Energy; deregulation in energy, transportation, communications, and finance; major educational programs under a new Department of Education; and major environmental protection legislation, including the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act.

Mr. Carter is the author of twenty-seven books. On December 10, 2002, the Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for 2002 to Mr. Carter "for his decades of untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development."

Textual

The records of the Pre-Presidential Papers are divided into 7 series.

Series I: Jimmy Carter’s 1966 Gubernatorial Campaign Files - NAID 2092725

This series was opened in February 2003. This series contains correspondence, form letters, notes, lists, voter lists, card indexes, financial statements, appointment books, schedules, speeches, advertisements, pamphlets, newsletters, and clippings. The majority of notes were handwritten by Jimmy Carter and other key campaign workers. The notes are generally names of people to contact with phone numbers scribbled on paper slips. Also included in this series are Carter’s campaign platform and strategy memos; Rosalynn Carter’s campaign notebook; lists of campaign contributions, and post election finance information. In addition, correspondence and financial information relating to Carter’s attempt at opening a bank is included. Arranged alphabetically by folder title.

Series II: Jimmy Carter’s State Senate Files - NAID 2092737

This series was opened in February 2003. This series contains correspondence, notes, minutes, reports, studies, requests, recommendations, and directories. The correspondence consists of letters from the public concerning requests for employment; material relating to the passage or defeat of certain legislation; and several personal letters from close friends and family. Since Jimmy Carter served on the Governor’s Commission to Improve Education and the University Sub-Committee on Higher Education, many reports, publications, letters, and handwritten notes relating to education legislation are included. In addition, some 1962 senate campaign material is also included. Arranged alphabetically by folder title.

Series III: Jimmy Carter’s 1974 Congressional Campaign Chairman’s Files - NAID 2092738

This series was opened in February 2003. The majority of material in this series consists of election research studies and statistics on both democratic and republican candidates in each state. Also included are selection lists of delegates, and Georgia counties primary run-off statistics. Arranged alphabetically by folder title.

Series IV: Jimmy Carter’s Lions Club District Governor’s Files - NAID 2092745

This series was opened in February 2003. This series includes agenda for cabinet meetings and conventions, correspondence, newsletters, membership and activity reports, publications, pamphlets, and finance reports. Arranged alphabetically by folder title.

Series V: Jimmy Carter’s West Central Georgia Planning and Development Association Files - NAID 2092744

This series was opened in February 2003. This series contains correspondence, reports, surveys, studies, and proposals relating to economic and industrial development in West Central Georgia. This series also includes the preliminary proposals for the Andersonville State Park. Arranged alphabetically by folder title.

Series VI: Jimmy Carter’s Sumter County Board of Education Chairman’s Files - NAID 2092743

This series was opened in February 2003. This series contains correspondence, surveys, studies, reports, and notes. This series also contains many of Jimmy Carter’s handwritten notes pertaining to his proposal for merging two Sumter County schools. Arranged alphabetically by folder title.

Series VII: Jimmy Carter’s 1970 Gubernatorial Campaign Files - NAID 2092742

This series was opened in February 2003. This series contains correspondence, biographical sketches, voter lists, voter card indexes, Jimmy Carter’s handwritten speeches, news clippings, appointment books, and background resource publications. Also included are the 1970 election results, invitations, regret letters, Christmas cards, supporter lists, campaign platform papers, requisitions for supplies and materials, advertising flyers, form letters, Hamilton Jordan’s correspondence, and Rosalynn Carter’s personal campaign notebook. Arranged alphabetically by folder title.

Restrictions on Access: These papers contain documents restricted in accordance with applicable executive order(s), which governs National Security policies, applicable statutes/agency restrictions, and material which has been closed in accordance with the donor’s deed of gift.

Terms Governing Use and Reproduction: Copyright interest in these papers has been donated to the United States Government. Some of the records may be subject to copyright restrictions (i.e. newspapers, publications, etc.). Researchers should contact the publisher for further information.

The records are held at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum, 441 John Lewis Freedom Pkwy NE, Atlanta, GA 30307.

Campaign management; Communication in politics; Education--Georgia; Governors--Elections; Mental health services; Political campaigns; Law and legislation--Georgia

Carter, Jimmy, 1924-; Carter, Rosalynn (1927-2023); Jordan, Hamilton, 1944-2008

Cambridge Survey Research Inc.; Lions Club International; Peace Officers Association of Georgia; West Central Georgia Planning and Development Association

Georgia

1961-1976

Jimmy Carter’s 1966 Gubernatorial Campaign Files

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